Case and handle

ABSTRACT

A handle mounted for pivotal and slidable movement on an instrument case, said handle being positionable in any one of three predetermined positions.

Unlted States Patent H 1 1111 3,878,964

Fogle Apr. 22, 1975 [5 CASE AND HANDLE 928.101 7/1909 Brakeman 220/961.698.915 l/I929 Kircher 220/96 [75] lnvenm Marlin Omnge- 3.124.266 31964 220/551 Asslgneei Q-V.S. Inc, E35 Orange.

[ Filed: Nov. 28, 1973 55.995 2/1944 Netherlands 220/96 327.95l 3/1958Switzerland... 220/96 APPL 291.564 6/]928 United Kingdom 240/523 [52]US. Cl. 220/96; 224/46 R Primary E -aminerRobert J. Spar [5 1] Int. Cl.B65d 25/28 Assistant E, -aminer--Kenneth Noland Field fl L 16, Attorney,Agent. or Firm-Rudolph .I. Jurick 248/126; 240/106 F, 8.18. 52.3. 52.5.57.l. 81, 81 C, 18 BC; 206/305; 220/94. 96, 55.7.

55.4. l6/l l5, H0; 224/46, 45 R [57] ABSTRACT A handle mounted forpivotal and slidable movement 5 R f r n Cited on an instrument case,said handle being positionable UNITED STATES PATENTS in any one of threepredetermined positions. 627.273 6/1899 Scrbert 220/96 1 Claim, 4Drawing Figures ull/ CASE AND HANDLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Incertain electrical instruments it is desirable to provide a carryinghandle which can be retracted when the instrument is shipped or used ina vertical position. and which can be rotated to support the instrumentin an inclined position. Various handle constructions and arrangementshave been provided for these purposes. but these are of relativelyexpensive construction and/or do not provide a positive. rigid supportfor the instrument when placed in the inclined position.

In accordance with this invention. a carrying handle is attached to acase by simple. inexpensive means and in such manner that it provides apositive support for positioning the case at an angle on a flat surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A pair of pins extend from the side walls ofacase and project through aligned slots formed in the leg portions of aU-shaped handle. The leg portions of the handle are slidable between aflange and a boss formed integrally with the case, whereby the handlecan be moved between retracted and extended positions relative to thecase. Also. the handle can be pivoted about the pins to an inclinedposition relative to the plane of the case and locked in such position.

An object of this invention is the provision ofa handle mounted on acase in such manner as to permit positioning of the handle in threepositions relative to the case.

An object of this invention is the provision of an improved arrangementfor attaching a handle to an instrument case. which handle can be movedto an extended or retracted position relative to the case. or can bepivotally moved into a position for supporting the case at an angle on aflat surface.

The above-stated and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description when taken with theaccompanying drawings. It will be understood, however. that the drawingsare for purposes of illustration and are not to be construed as definingthe scope or limits of the invention. reference being had for the latterpurpose to the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings wherein like referencecharacters denote like parts in the several views:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of an instrument case provided with ahandle in accordance with this invention. the handle being shown in theretracted position'.

FIG. 2 is a corresponding right side elevational view;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing the handle in the extendedposition, and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the handle in the position forsupporting the case at an angle on a flat surface.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2,there is shown an instrument case 10 having an integral, peripheralflange l1 and feet 12. The front of the case is closed by a panel 13carrying an electrical indicating instrument I4, adjustable knobs I5 andpin jacks 16. A U-shaped, metal handle 17 has leg portions 18 and 19spanning the case. which leg portions have aligned slots formed therein,the slot 20 in the leg portion 19 being visible in FIG. 2. Extendingfrom the side walls of the case are a pair of aligned pins 21 and 22,which pins are slidable within the associated slots formed in the legportions of the handle. Visible in FIG. 2 is an elongated boss 23 formedintegrally with the case. The upper edge of this boss is aligned withthe lower wall of a notch 24 formed in the case flange 11. A similarboss extends from the opposite side wall of the case and. also. asimilar notch is formed in the case flange on the said opposite side ofthe case.

The leg portions of the handle are slidable between the case flange andthe two bosses. Thus, the handle can be depressed to the fully retractedposition shown in FIG. 2, as when the instrument is packed for shipmentor is used in the upright position. Or. the handle can be fully extendedas shown in FIG. 3 for carrying purposes. When it is desired to use theinstrument in an inclined position. the handle is first extended to theposition shown in FIG. 3 and then rotated about the pins extending fromthe side walls of the case until the leg portions engage the associatedbosses. see FIG. 4 wherein the leg portion [9 is in engagement with theboss 23. Now. the handle is pressed toward the case. whereby the ends ofthe leg portions enter into the notches formed in the case flange. Whenthe handle is in this position. the notches and the bosses preventcounterclockwise and clockwise rotation, respectively. of the handlerelative to the case. thereby providing a positive support for theinstrument. Upon withdrawing the handle leg portions from the flangenotches, the handle can be pivoted back to the position shown in FIG. 3and depressed to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Having now described the invention what I desire to protect by letterspatent is set forth in the following claims:

I. In combination.

a. a case having parallel side walls with flanges extending from saidside walls,

b. a pair of bosses extending from the case side walls and spaced fromsaid flanges. said bosses including flat side walls.

c. a U-shaped handle having leg portions spanning the case and slidablebetween the said flanges and bosses, said leg portions having alignedslots formed therein,

d. a pair of pins extending from the side walls of the case and into thesaid slots. said handle being slidably movable to a fully extendedposition relative to the case and then pivotable about the said pins tobring the leg portions into engagement with the said bosses. and

e. a pair of notches formed in said flanges. each notch having a wallaligned with the flat side wall of the associated boss, the notchesbeing positioned to receive the ends of the handle leg portions whensaid leg portions are in engagement with the flat side walls of thebosses.

1. In combination, a. a case having parallel side walls with flangesextending from said side walls, b. a pair of bosses extending from thecase side walls and spaced from said flanges, said bosses including flatside walls, c. a U-shaped handle having leg portions spanning the caseand slidable between the said flanges and bosses, said leg portionshaving aligned slots formed therein, d. a pair of pins extending fromthe side walls of the case and into the said slots, said handle beingslidably movable to a fully extended position relative to the case andthen pivotable about the said pins to bring the leg portions intoengagement with the said bosses, and e. a pair of notches formed in saidflanges, each notch having a wall aligned with the flat side wall of theassociated boss, the notches being positioned to receive the ends of thehandle leg portions when said leg portions are in engagement with theflat side walls of the bosses.